Automatic refusing unit



July 25, 1933. 1 E, M ER 1,919,453

AUTOMATI G REFUS ING UNIT Filed Jan. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 25, 1933. J. SUMPTER 1,919,453

AUTOMATIC REFUSING UNIT Filed Jan. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 25, 1933 PATENT ()FFICE JOHN E. S'UMPTER, 01E MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESDTA AUTOMATIG REFUSING UNIT Application filed January 9, 1929. Serial No. 331,170.

My invention relates to an automatic expulsion refusing device with timing element on the second or automatic closing fuse. The purpose of my refusing device is of refusing a line by a second fuse which is automatically operated into service after the first fuse has been blown, thereby procuring better service for the customer on the line wherein my refusing unit is employed and o overcoming the necessity of sending a man out to refuse the line where the main fuse has been blown.

It is also a feature of my invention to provide a refusing unit operable automatically so that when one fuse is blown out another can be brought into operation and 7 thereby prevent the delay in closing the line for service. To accomplish this I have provided a particular means associated with the operating parts so that the operation is antomatic and without unnecessary delay.

My invention includes a timing means which operates to prevent the refusing too quickly until the overload or shock on the line has passed and thus timing the refusing operation. This is an important feature of my invention and is carried out in a simple effective manner.

The automatic expulsion refusing unit is 1 provided with catch and spring means for holding and operating the refusing member of my unit, all of which parts are associated together with the other fuse parts so as to operate, with best efficiency and economically providing a unit which is highly desirable because of its advantages over ordinary single fuse units.

These features together with other details and objects of the invention will be more fully and clearly set forth hereinafter and pointed out specifically to describe their particular nature and function.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a side view of my automatic expulsion refusing unit, showing the position of some of the parts in dotted outline.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through t e f the parts of the refusing unit to show position of the parts after one fuse has been blown.

Figure 3 is a perspective of a portion of my refusing unit.

Figure 4 is a similar perspective showing the parts in a different position.

My automatic expulsion refusing unit A is designed with brackets 10 supported on the insulators B. The brackets 10 support the socket members 11 and 12 at either end of the fuse C so as to provide an electrical contact at either end of the fuse C when the same is in position as illustrated in Figure 1. The connectors 11 and 12 are provided with suitable spring engaging means so as to form the proper electrical contact between the ends of the fuse and the members 11 and 12.

The wiring connections from the insulators B are not illustrated in detail in these drawings. It is apparent that the regular wiring connections are made in the regular manner so as to interpose the fuse C in the line. The clip 12 supports the head 14 of the fuse O which extends out in a manner to form a bracket portion 15 and 2. depending bracket portion 16. This head 14 forms the operating portion of my automatic expulsion refusing unit and is adapted to operate the mechanism which causes the automatic refusing of the line.

The head 14 is formed with an explosion chamber 17 in which the fuse 18 is held by the screw 19 on one end. The other end of the fuse 18 connects with the wire 20 extending through the hollow insulated tubing 21 of the fuse C. When the fuse 18 is burnt out it is adapted to explode with a force through the tube 21', thereby expelling the force through the tube into the open atmosphere.

When the explosion takes place in the chamber 17, the force of the explosion is adapted to operate the plunger 22 which in turn causes the operating rod 23 to operate the catch 24. The catch 24 is held normally in closed position by the spring 25 and engages over a pin 26 near the top of the rod 26, as illustrated in Figure, 3, to hold the rod 26 down against the tension of the'spring 27. Thus when the explosion. releases the catch 24 and the outer end of the rod 23 7 used is insured strikes against the shoulder 28 projecting from the side of the catch 24:,- the catch is released and the upper end of the rod 26 is forced upwardly by the spring 27.

When the rod 26 approaches the upper limit of its stroke, a cam 26", shown in Figure 2 formed on the side of the rod 26, engages a cam 30 formed in an adjacent catch which is normally held by the spring 81 over the hook end 32 of the head 29 and forces the catch 30 to disengage the hook end 32, permitting the fuse D to be pulled down by the spring E into engagement with the extensions projecting upward- 1y from the fuse clips 11 and 12. The head 29 of the fuse D is pivotally supported at 36 and normally the fuse D is held in a cooked position, ready to be released instantaneously upon the blowing of the fuse 18 in the chamber 17. The force of the eX- plosion is sufiicient to operate the plunger 22 and the rod 23, disengaging the catch members 24 and 30, so that my unit is operated to automatically refuse the same, thereby refusing the line in which my unit is employed.

I have provided a timing element which is adapted to time the operation of the closing of the fuse D into operative position which includes a gear pinion 88 which is adapted to engage the rack or teeth 39 formed on the rod 26 and by means of the weight or pendulum 40 the operation of the rod 26 up against the head 29 is retarded sufficiently to time the closing operation of the fuse D. This timing mechanism is only diagrammatically illustrated and obviously any suitable timing mechanism may be employed to accomplish the desired results. The weight on the pendulum may be adjusted and thus vary the time in the operation of the rod 26 in closing the switch D. Other forms of timing mechanism may be employed of any well known type or nature to cause the proper operation of the fuse D so that by employing my automatic expulsion refusing unit, the line on which it is and substantial manner.

he fuse D is provided with an insulated tubular portion 42 similar to the tubular portion 21 of the fuses C and is also provided with an explosion chamber 43 wherein the fuse 44 is adapted to explode. In this manner the fuse are standard with each other and operable in the manner described. It is commonly known that fifty to ninety per cent of the cases of fuse blowing is only an instantaneous fault and if it were possible to replace the fuse almost immediately afterwards the'service would continue without further interruption to the customer. I have designed the two fuses as a unit operable with each other, easily assembled, and making replacement of the two fuse as a better service in a practical unit a very tion.

The lower explosion chamber 17 supports the timing element and mechanism which holds the upper fuse in approximately a thirty degree angle in readiness for closing the circuit. The plunger 22 in the lower chamber 17 is held back in firingposition by the catch 24, which locks the timing element down in compressed position. Thus the fuse D is held cocked ready for operation. An important feature of my unit is that it may be easily detected upon inspection as it will readily appear if the fuse D is released into the position illustrated in Figure 2, then the lower fuse C has apparently blown, and the inspector can readily be advised of the condition of the unit A. This provides an important and meritorious advantage in my refusing unit. The entire unit is installed on two insulators making a very compact device. It is apparent that the mounting is immaterial whether it be hung in vertical, horizontal or under-hung position. An important feature resides in the simplicity of my unit and the fact that I use the natural pressure built up by the explosion of the gases in the lower chamber to force the release of the upper fuse where-- by it may be tripped into operating position. The eficiency of this fuse and the accuracy of blowing is materially increased in value by the use of the two large castlngs or explosion chamber heads upon which mechanism is mounted tending to reduce the heat by radiation to a minimum thereby causing the fuse to function as near as pos sible to its accurate rating.

I have shown my refusing unit A with two fuse members C and D which are associated together so that the primary fuse, such as C is connected ordinarily in the line circuit to carry the load. The second fuse D is held in readiness so as to be substituted automatically for the primary fuse upon the blowing out of the primary fuse. Obviously several fuses can be employed which would virtually duplicate the unit mechanism herein set forth so that one fuse after another could be substituted in a manner to refuse a circuit upon the blowing out of the operative fuse. The function and operation would be virtually the same as set forth and I have therefore shown a structural illustratin g a means of carrying out one phase of the unit. The principles and functions would be the same in using several refusing or secondary fuse to take the place of the primary fuse.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my automatic expulsion refusing unit and while I have illustrated a particular form and construction of the same, I desire to have it understood that the illustrations are convenient and practical operamembers, means for supporting a fuse Gil neiaate only suggestive of a means of carrying out the invention and that variations may be made Within the scope of the following claims Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An automatic expulsion refusing unit including, an expulsion fuse, means for mounting said fuse to connect the same in an electric circuit, a second fuse, and hinge means for holding said second fuse out of operation, said holding means being operable by the burning out of said first fuse to automatically cause said second fuse to move into operative position.

2. A refusing unit including, several fuse connected in an electric circuit, means for hingedly supporting another of said fuse members in readiness for operation and means operable by said first fuse to automatically swing a new fuse in said circuit when the first fuse blows out.

3. A fuse unit for a line circuit comprising a pair of fuse members, one of said fuse members being interposed in the line circuit, a second fuse hingedly supported to said first fuse, means for holding said second fuse in cocked position for operation, an explosion chamber carried by said first fuse, a plunger in said explosion chamber, and means connecting said plunger whereby when said first fuse explodes in said explosion chamber said plunger will automatically release said cocked fuse to throw it into operative position to replace the operative fuse.

A refusing unit including, a pair of fuse members each having expulsion chambers, an explosion chamber including a plunger in one of said fuse members, means for holding the other of said fuse members cocked out of operating position adjacent said first fuse, and means for releasing said cocked fuse to automatically move the same into operative position to substitute the first fuse by the blowing out of said first fuse.

5. A refusing unit including a primary fuse adapted to carry the line circuit, a secondary fuse pivotally associated With said primary fuse, and means for causing said secondary fuse to be substituted for said primary fuse by the blowing out of said primary fuse.

JQHN E. SUMPTER. 

